In this thought-provoking episode of After Socrates, host John Vervaeke is joined by scholar Christopher Mastropietro to explore the connections between Socrates and Kierkegaard, as well as the relationship between reason, faith, existentialism, and spirituality. Through a deep dive into irony, self-transcendence, and relevance realization, Vervaeke and Mastropietro reveal the shared project between these two influential thinkers, while discussing the role of humor and absurdity in understanding the human condition. Christopher Mastropietro is a scholar and author who has collaborated extensively with John Vervaeke on various projects.
Time-Codes:
00:00 - Kierkegaard's humorous example of a busy man dying
01:07 - Introduction to After Socrates, Episode 17
03:24 - Faith, logos, and character cultivation
05:50 - Kierkegaard's paradoxical argument on autonomy
06:47 - The paradox of self-transcendence
09:53 - Irony in developing a relationship with truth
10:35 - Differentiating irony from cynicism and sarcasm
14:08 - Irony as participatory and perspectival truth
16:24 - Kierkegaard's example illustrating ironic tension
20:04 - Irony's grounding and autonomy
22:13 - Irony, epistemic humility, and aporia
24:00 - An ironist's passionate participation in paradox
25:58 - Clarifying irony, cynicism, sarcasm, and intellectual laziness
30:26 - Relevance realization and irony
32:28 - Communicating ultimate truth indirectly
33:02 - Relevance realization and ultimate concern
34:00 - Ultimate concern vs. regular concern
34:51 - Socrates and Kierkegaard's shared project
36:19 - Kierkegaard's use of the eye of Socrates
37:16 - Agency and freedom in philosophy
